Sripathi dies in motor accident

By Anushka Nanayakkara

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Former Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi MP and his two bodyguards were killed yesterday when the jeep in which they were travelling veered off the road and crashed on to a tree in Thambuttegama, Anuradhapura.

Sooriyarachchi was on his way to participate in a conference organised by the University students of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's Mahajana Wing, Chief Organiser Ruwan Ferdinands told the Sunday Observer. Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera also attended the conference, he said.

According to SSP Cyril Fernando of Nikaweratiya Police, the jeep bearing No. 65-3086 which was driven at a high speed crashed against a tree at Medagama. Two others who were travelling with him, died and the other two are out of danger, hospital sources confirmed.

The post-mortem was carried out by the Acting Magistrate of Tambuttegama, Mr. Alwis and the JMO of Anuradhapura, Dr. Jayasena.

Police said the vehicle carrying Parliamentarian Sooriayarachchi crashed on to a tree around 1.15 pm when it slipped off the road due to high speed. The MP was rushed to the Thambuttegama Hospital to be pronounced dead on admission.

His driver Priyantha Samarasinghe and a friend of Sooriayaarachchi, S.K.R. Silva too died on the spot. Silva was identified as Chief Executive Officer of a private radio channel.

Ministerial Security Division personnel killed were identified as Somaratne and Nihal. Police said that the driver must have lost control when negotiating a sharp bend at excessive speed. Sripathi Sooriarchchi was born on September 8, 1962 at Batagama South.

He studied at Dharmaloka Vidyalaya and at Chirsturaja Vidyalaya, Ja-ela and St. Anthony's Maha Vidyalaya, Wattala. He read for an LLB degree from the University of Colombo. He has a diploma in Commerce and a diploma for International Affairs from the International Studies Centre at the BMICH.

In 1998 he was appointed an executive member of the SLFP and became chief organiser for Kelaniya. In 1998 he was appointed Executive Director of the Rupavahini Corporation. He was the Commissioner of the Urban Development Authority and an Ex Member of the Press Council. He was also a Commissioner for the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority.

Sabaragamuwa Province Governor, Reggie Ranatunga is likely to be appointed to parliament from the Gampaha district to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sooriyaarachchi.